Apple has shared an insight into how Formula 1 drivers were integrated into the F1 movie, following the release of the blockbuster on Apple TV that has allowed subscription holders to stream the production at no extra cost.
F1, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, follows nomadic driver Sonny Hayes (Pitt) as he returns to the championship to help the struggling APXGP alongside the rookie, Joshua Pearce (Idris).
The movie was filmed during real F1 race weekends and features the drivers from the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton also makes a cameo as well as serving as an executive producer on the production.
While there was some initial scepticism from the grid, executive producer Tim Bampton explained that getting director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer in front of the drivers during a briefing was a turning point.
“The prospect of bringing in a major movie production to create an 11th team was a really unprecedented endeavour,” Bampton explained.
“Racing drivers are very focused, single-minded individuals, but having Brad and Damson and Joe and Jerry to talk to them about the fact that they were there to help reflect the skill and commitment and bravery and courage of those drivers was hugely important and really well received.”
Kosinski added: “The drivers’ meeting is a very kind of sacred closed session, so when we were invited it was very surreal. I think there was some understandable scepticism at the beginning to have a bunch of people from Hollywood walk in.
“Once we explained what we were doing, they’ve embraced us and all the drivers have been fantastic, open to playing cameos of themselves.”
Bruckheimer said: “We’re very fortunate because we got a combination of team owners, team principals and drivers in the film.”
The drivers had a private screening of the film ahead of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, giving the opportunity to see themselves on the big screen.
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